Shoe boxes



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Dec. 26, 1967 R. V. JOHNSON SHOE BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15. 1966 INVENTOR Pong/:40 1/ /OHNSON BY W ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1967 R. v. JOHNSON SHOE BOXES v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1966 INVENTOR xlll lykllll ill" I I W l wri g v ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,360,112 SHOE BOXES Ronald V. Johnson, Bloomington, Minn., assignor to Hoerner-Waldorf Corporation, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 527,616 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shoe box comprising a tubular outer carton and a liner in which a panel of the liner extends substantially coextensive with the bottom wall of the top, the liner having cut lines and fold lines defining a portion of the liner which may be hinged out of plane to provide an abutment against which the heels of shoes may engage. A concealed carrying handle secured to a side wall of the liner underlying a detachable area of the outer carton may be provided.

This invention relates to an improvement in shoe boxes and deals particularly with a carton in which a pair of shoes may be stored and which also serves as a carrier carton for the shoes.

Mens shoes are conventionally contained in opentopped cartons having a telescoping cover. These cartons are usually all of the same size so that they can be stacked neatly one upon the other on shelves in the shoe store. The shoe sizes are normally printed on the ends of the boxes. The shoe salesmen normally open the box, remove a shoe, and telescope the cover onto the bottom of the box, leaving the top of the box open until the shoe is re placed. When the shoes are sold, the boxes are usually wrapped or placed in a bag.

Conventional shoe boxes are usually thrown away after the shoes are delivered. However, certain types of shoes are not used in the conventional manner. For example, golf shoes having spiked soles are usually carried to a golf course and are worn only for playing golf. Golf shoes are usually relatively expensive. Accordingly, a manufacturer of golf shoes has requested an unconventional form of box for displaying the shoes and which may be used to carry the shoes from place to place.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a shoe box of an end opening type which may be readily opened to slide the shoes into or out of the container. Means are provided for locking the end closure in closed position when the shoes are being stored and carried.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a container having means engageable with the heels of the shoe to hold the shoes in a predetermined position in the box.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a shoe box formed of relatively light weight paperboard of a type which may be readily printed with an. attractive design. In order to provide the necessary strength for carrying the shoes, a liner of stronger material such as corrugated paperboard is inserted into the box, the liner preferably being generally U-shaped in cross-section. The liner is equipped with abutment means engaging the heels of the shoes to hold the shoes in place. The liner also forms a support for a carrying handle which is normally concealed from view until the shoes are sold but which maybe exposed for use when desired.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the shoe box in position to be carried.

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FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the shoe box in open position and with the liner partially removed.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the shoe box is formed.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which theliner is formed, the blank being reversed from FIGURE 3.

The outer shell of the shoe box is indicated in general by the letter A and is constructed as is best illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. As illustrated, the box A includes a top panel 10, a sidewall panel '11, a bottom panel 12, and a second side wall panel 13, the panels being connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15, and 16. A glue flap 17 is hingedly connected to the top wall panel 10 along a fold line 19 which is parallel to the previously described fold lines. In forming the box, the glue flap 17 is adhered 'in face contact with a portion of the side wall panel 13 to form a tubular closure.

A closure of the automatic bottom type is hinged to an end of the wall panels. Closure flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 are hingedly connected to the ends of the panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively along a substantially common line of fold 24. The closure flaps 20 and 22 are provided with diagonal fold lines 25 and 26. The fold line 25 extends diagonally across the flap 20 from the juncture between lines 14 and 24, while the fold line 26 extends diagonally across the flap 22 from the juncture between fold lines '16 and 24. The triangular corner portions 27 and 29 which are outwardly of the diagonal fold lines 25 and 26 are adhered to areas 60 and 31 of the outer surfaces of the closure flaps 21 and 23. This is done after all of the closure flaps have been folded against the inner surfaces of the wall panels to which they are hinged and the triangular corner portions 27 and 29 have been folded through against portions of the closure flaps 20 and 22 to which they are secured. When the tubular carton is folded from fiat form to rectangular form, the closure flaps fold into an end closing position and the flaps 20 and 22 interlock in the notches 32 and 33. As this type of enclosure is wellknown in the art, no further explanation is believed necessary. V

A reclosable closure is provided at the other end of the Wall structure. A closure panel 34 is hingedly connected to the bottom wall 12 along a fold line 35. A tuck flap 36 is foldably connected to the closure panel 34 along a fold line 37 which is parallel to the fold line 35. The tuck flap 36 is designed to tuck inwardly of the top panel 10 when the carton is closed.

A gusset flap 39 is foldably connected to the side Wall along an extension of the fold line 35.'The gusset flap 39 is hingedly connected by the diagonal fold line 40 to a second gusset flap 41 hingedly connected to the side edge of the closure panel 34 along a fold line 42 which is substantially an extension of the fold line 15. When the carton is opened, the gusset flaps 39 and 41 form a generally L- shaped flap structure which limits the opening of the closure flap 34. i

A similar flap structure is connected to the side wall 13. A gusset flap 43 is hingedly connected to the side wall 13 along an extension of the fold line 35. The gusset flap 43 is hingedly connected along a diagonal fold line 44 'flap 34 to a position in which the closure flap 34 is in coplanar relation to the bottom panel 12. The diagonal fold line 40 emanates from the juncture between the fold lines 15 and 35, while the diagonal fold line 34 emanates from the juncture between the fold lines 35 and 16.

A locking tab 47 is provided near the end edge 49 of the top panel 10, which edge is aligned with the fold line 35. The tab 49 is defined by a generally U-shaped weakened line of separation, this arrangement being employed so that the locking tab 47 will normally remain in the plane of the top panel 10 until the end of the tab has been manually disconnected from the panel 10. The ends 51 of the U-shaped weakened line of separation 50 are connected by a fold line 52, this fold line extending parallel to the end edge 49. A second fold line 53 extends transversely across the locking tab 47 in spaced parallel relation to the fold line 52. The spacing between the fold lines 52 and 53 is preferably slightly greater than the distance between the fold line 52 and. the edge 49 of the blank.

A locking slot is formed in the tuck flap 36 near the fold line 37 by a cut line 54 which is generally U-shaped and which terminates on the fold line 37. When the tuck flap 36 is folded down at right angles to the closure flap 34, a locking slot is formed which is properly proportioned and properly positioned to accommodate the locking tab 47.

The liner B is formed as is best illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The liner B includes a bottom panel 55 which is slightly narrower than the bottom panel 12 of the carton A. Side walls 57 and 59 are foldably connected to opposite edges of the bottom panel 55 along parallel fold lines 60 and 61. The bottom panel 55 is substantially coextensive with the carton bottom panel 12, and the side wall panels 57 and 59 are substantially coextensive with the carton side walls 11 and 13. The carton A is normally made of flat paperboard while the liner B is normally made of corrugated paperboard or the like.

A third fold 62 at right angles to the fold lines 60 63 extends across the bottom panel 55 in spaced parallel relation to the fold line 62. The cut line 63 intersects the fold lines 60 and 61 and the ends 64 of the cut line are located in the side walls 57 and 59. Angular fold lines 65 connect the ends of the fold line 62, which are at the fold lines 60 and 61, to the ends 64 of the cut line 63.

When the side walls 57 and 59 of the liner are folded into right angular relation to the bottom panel 55, the flap 66 between the fold line 62 and the cut line 63 is simultaneously folded into angular relation to the remainder of the bottom panel 55, the triangular areas 67 between the angularly related fold lines 60 and 65 and 61 and 65, respectively, folding through 180 and into contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 57 and 59. This arrangement forms an inclined abutment which is spaced from the ends of the liner B a distance approximately equal to the length of the heels of the shoes. The abutment is indicated in FIGURE 2 f the drawings. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent the shoes from sliding longitudinally within the carton. Obviously, the carton is long enough to accommodate shoes of the largest size made, and the abutment serves to prevent shorter shoes from sliding when in place in the carton.

The side wall 57 of the liner B is provided with two longitudinally spaced slots or apertures 69 therein which are substantially midway between the fold line 60 and the opposite edge of the panel 57. The apertures '69 are adapted to accommodate the crescent shaped end 70 of a flexible plastic handle strip 71. The handle strip 71 is somewhat longer than the distance between the inner edges of the spaced slots 69 so that the handle may be drawn into upwardly bowed position as indicated in FIG- URE l of the drawings.

The carton A is provided with a removable area 72 at the center of the side wall 11, the removable area being of generally oval shape with the ends of the remov able area positioned outwardly of the slots 69 when the liner is in position in the carton. The removable area 72 is defined by a weakened line of separation 73. When extends across the bottom panel 55 and 61. A out line the carton A and its liner B are to be carried, the removable area 72 may be removed, exposing the handle strip 71 which then may be grasped and pulled outwardly into the position shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. After the carton has been opened, it may be closed and held in closed position by the locking tab 47. The area 74 of the locking tab which is between the fold lines 52 and 53 is folded into face contact with the portion of the top panel 10 between the fold line 50 and the edge 49, and the end portion 75 of the locking tab is inserted through the slot formed by the cut line 54.

When the carton is in closed position, the edges 76 and 77 of the gusset flaps 39 and 43, respectively, fold closely adjacent, and parallel to, the closure panel 34. An edge 76, 77 of each of the gusset flaps 39 and 43, respectively, extends into position closely adjacent to the top wall 10 of the carton, it being understood that the gusset flaps 39, 41 and 43, 45 fold along the diagonal fold lines 40 and 44 into face contact. As a result, the original container for the shoes may be used as a shoe carrier and shoe storage box when the shoes are not in use.

In accordance with the patent statues, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in shoes boxes; while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A shoe box including:

an outer carton of rectangular form having tubularly connected top, bottom, and side walls,

closure flaps at opposite ends of at least certain of said walls foldable to provide end closures,

a liner in said carton having a base panel inwardly of, and substantially coextensive with, said bottom wall, and side panels hingedly connected to the side edges of said base panel and lying inwardly of said carton side walls,

a cut line extending across said base panel intersecting the lines of hinge connecting said base panel to said side panels and terminating in said side panels,

a fold line extending across said base panel in spaced parallel relation to said cut line and terminating at said lines of hinge,

fold lines connecting the ends of said cut line to the corresponding ends of said fold lines, providing substantially triangular gusset flaps in said side panels, whereby when said gusset flaps are folded inwardly into face contact with adjoining portions of said side panels, the portion of said base panel between said cut line and said parallel fold line may be hinged out of the plane of said base panel to form a heel engaging abutment.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said side panels are substantially coextensive with said side walls.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including a handle member having its ends secured to said liner and extending through awall of said carton.

-4. The structure of claim 1 and including a flexible handle having its ends extending through a side panel of said liner and of suflicient length to be drawn into upwardly bowed relation extending through one wall of said carton.

5. The structure of claim 4 and in which said one wall of said carton includes a detachable area defined by weakened lines of separation, said area overlying said handle.

6. A shoe box including:

an outer carton of rectangular form having tubularly connected top, bottom, and side walls,

closure flaps at opposite ends of at least certain of said walls folda-ble to provide end closures,

a liner in said carton including a base panel lying inwardly of and substantially coextensive with one wall of said carton, and at least one side panel hiugedly connected to a side edge of said base panel and lying inwardly of a side wall of said carton,

a out line extending across said base panel intersecting said line of hinge connecting said base panel and side panel and terminating in said side panel,

a fold line extending across said base panel in spaced parallel relation to said cut line and terminating at said line of binge,

a fold line in said side panel connecting the corresponding ends of said fold line and cut line to provide a substantially triangular gusset flap in said side panel, whereby when said gusset flap is folded inwardly into face contact with the adjoining side panel, the portion of the base panel between said out line and said parallel fold line may be hinged out of the plane of said base panel to form a heel engaging abutment,

one said panel having a pair of spaced apertures therethrough,

a flexible handle strap overlying said panel between said apertures and having its ends extending through said apertures,

enlarged ends of greater width than said apertures on said handle strap, said ends being spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between said apertures,

one wall of said carton having an aperture therethrough exposing the portion of said handle strap between said apertures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,076,076 10/1913 Story 22919 2,640,645 6/1953 Brown 22952 2,753,102 7/1956 Paige 229--52 2,855,096 10/1958 Aull 206-7 3,140,814 7/1964 Ellis 22952 3,282,410 1 1/1966 Cdte 206-45 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOE BOX INCLUDING: AN OUTER CARTON OF RECTANGULAR FORM HAVING TUBULARLY CONNECTED TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE WALLS, CLOSURE FLAPS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID WALLS FOLDABLE TO PROVIDE END CLOSURES, A LINER IN SAID CARTON HAVING A BASE PANEL INWARDLY OF, AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH, SAID BOTTOM WALL, AND SIDE PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID BASE PANEL AND LYING INWARDLY OF SAID CARTON SAID WALLS, A CUT LINE EXTENDING ACROSS SAID BASE PANEL TO SAID THE LINES OF HINGE CONNECTING SAID BASE PANEL TO SAID SIDE PANELS AND TERMINATING IN SAID SIDE PANELS, A FOLDABLE LINE EXTENDING ACROSS SAID BASE PANEL IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID CUT LINE TO THE SAID LINES OF HINGE, FOLD LINES CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID CUT LINE TO THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF SAID FOLD LINES, PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR GUSSET FLAPS IN SAID SIDE PANELS, WHEREBY WHEN SAID GUSSET FLAPS ARE FOLDED INWARDLY INTO FACE CONTACT WITH ADJOINING PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE PANELS, THE PORTION OF SAID BASE PANEL BETWEEN SAID CUT LINE AND SAID PARALLEL FOLD LINE MAY BE HINGED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID BASE PANEL TO FORM A HEEL ENGAGING ABUTMENT. 